People visiting hospitals falling prey to Covid

Kumaran P | NT

Bengaluru: There have been increasing instances of people falling prey to Covid-19 after visiting hospitals for scans, blood tests and even doctor consultations.

A few weeks ago, the Department of Health and Family Welfare had asked the citizens not to visit the hospitals unless they are critical or need emergency treatment. However, several patients who went even for the emergency services have tested positive.

The problem with the segregation of non-Covid and Covid entry points at many hospitals are not seen these days. Not just the private hospitals, even at the government-run hospitals, the wards are different, but the entry and exit doors remain the same.

“The scanning and blood test area are common. Our scanning room was right next to the entry for Covid-19 wards and we could not help but have to take my father for the CT scan and MRI because it was an emergency situation and cannot be done through teleconsultation,” said Prakruthi, a resident of Malleswaram.

What subsequently happened to Prakruthi’s family was a disaster. Every single person at home caught the virus. “It all started with sudden fever, cough and cold and it was not stopping at all. We were under the medications suggested by doctors and it is our 7th day and we are still recovering,” she added.During the second wave of COVID-19, the segregation of the COVID and Non-COVID wards were clearly demarcated as the caseloads were high. During the ongoing third wave, the caseloads requiring hospitalization are low and strict adherence to the separate entries have not been made.A doctor from a private hospital said, “We started allocating 25 beds for Covid-19 patients after the government asked us to do so. But we have not seen a single patient during the third wave. What is the point in having two entries? Usually, mid-sized hospitals cannot follow strict entry points because the hospital campus itself will be small to accommodate people for two different categories. We are largely encouraging citizens for teleconsultation, but they do not listen. They want the doctor to see them and get an injection.”

Another patient said, “All that I did was to go see my mother who is admitted to the hospital for typhoid. We all restrained from visiting the hospital and made only one point contact to visit hospitals, but we went with all precautions, but we were not spared. Just within two days, everyone at home started getting Covid- 19 symptoms and we are all down.” However, officials in the civic administration suggested that the patients go to hospitals when the symptoms of any complications need the utmost attention.